Maintenance and Enhancement of ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation and Whole Genome Sequencing for State Food Testing Laboratories

Project Summary/AbstractThe purpose of this proposal from the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) isto advance the goal of a national Integrated Food Safety System by increasing thereadiness of state laboratories for ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation and by supporting thelaboratories that participate in FDA's GenomeTrakr network.APHL will: ? Develop trainings, workshops and other educational materials and resources for use by GenomeTrakr laboratories and state laboratories seeking to achieve, maintain or enhance accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard ? Plan and host the annual GenomeTrakr face-to-face meeting ? Provide direct technical assistance to non-FDA funded food testing laboratories seeking accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standardThese efforts will meet individual laboratory and broad-based training needs aroundISO/IEC 17025:2017 laboratory accreditation and whole genome sequencing for theGenomeTrackr network. We will provide forums to improve communication andcollaboration between federal, state and local human and animal food testing laboratoriesand other GenomeTrackr laboratories. Measurement of success will be against statedmetrics, refined in consultation with the funding agency.This proposal continues valuable collaborative work with the Office of Regulatory Scienceand Office of Partnerships at FDA. As the Association representing state and locallaboratories, APHL can effectively and efficiently advance the goals of this CooperativeAgreement. For over 50 years, we have met the responsibility to educate, train and providetechnical assistance to our members and put forth practice guidelines that define the field.Leveraging our experience will better position FDA to work in partnership with state andlocal authorities to build an Integrated Food Safety System and achieve national publichealth goals.